Charles & Claire Ch. 30

CHAPTER TWO

We left on our way to Augusta, Georgia that was our next stop. We're performing at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre on the Augusta State University Campus, one of our smaller venues, holding only 944 people. Our performance there was really good, with the smaller crowd equally enjoying it. As always, we had a group who wanted our autographs. I need to check poster sales... I haven't in quite a while.

After Augusta, we travelled and performed in Charlestown, South Carolina, then Charlotte and over to Raleigh, both in North Carolina. It was on the three-hour drive between Raleigh and Richmond, Virginia that I finally checked on poster sales.

We were up to 2.875 million posters sold, which must've included all that Walt Disney World bought to resale at cost plus 2%. From what Sandy told me at the time, they started giving away the pens, when somebody bought all eleven posters. I'll call Ken about that!

Almost 850,000 of the posters sold were of the Mom's; close behind at 600,000 was Kalista in her Red Dress, then the dancing picture of Claire and I, at 485,000 and the rest doing quite well.

Richmond was an interesting place; we performed at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, in the Grand Ballroom, where they fit 3,000 people to see 'Michael Bublé and the Dancing Sensation of the Ages, Charles, Claire and the Sparkling Kalista.' They loved us.

Next up was Washington DC, where we were staying and performing at the Georgetown University Center Hotel in the Grand Ballroom, where we're performing in front of 4,000 people, who are paying according to Michael, $500 a seat. When I asked him why he charged so much, he responded, 'They can afford it.'

I sure hope it's a sell-out!

Michael wanted to reconfigure the evening, due to the expectations derived from the cost per ticket. It would still be all music we've done before, except we're adding 'You Light Up My Life,' a waltz, as the finale of the evening. We had the song, so right after we checked in to our enormous rooms, Claire, Kalista and I started brainstorming ideas for this dance.

Kalista suggested Claire and I start, and at the transition from the first verse to the second she goes off stage right and Kalista comes on stage left... an excellent idea. Claire would come back and they would do some matching Developés and side by side spot spins, then Kalista would leave and I would finish with Claire doing an abbreviated Waltz routine, finishing with Claire performing a layback towards the audience.

We hadn't pre-conceptualized like this before, but it all made sense in our heads. I turned the song up loud, and we practiced a bit in the room, having moved a few things around a little. It all seemed to work out. Our first day of practice with Michael was in the morning. I asked Sarah for a full body massage like she'd done before.

"Charles, I thought you didn't need me any more after the couples massage that you and Claire got?" Sarah said with a glimmer in her eye.

"That's OK mom, I'll do it," Claire said as she walked out in her most revealing swimsuit... ever.

Sarah quickly covered Kalista's eyes, but not before Kalista said, "Wow," and they both left the room. "Go ahead," she said as they closed the door.

I walked up to Claire and looked at her still maturing body and said, "I'll be right back."

I came back in, wearing a swimsuit myself and lay down on the bed.

"Where does she usually start Charles?"

"With the bottom of my feet, just rubbing hard, moving from heel to arch and back again, she usually takes about five minutes there, than moves up to my ankle. She uses her thumb and palm more than anything else."

"Thanks, Loverboy."

The next five minutes was silent, except for my occasional 'oomph,' due to her hands hitting a spot that either provided a great deal of relief, or a minor amount of eroticism.

"Do I switch to the other foot, or stay with this one all the way up?"

"Stay with it, you'll start to feel what Sarah calls knots, under my skin. When you find one rub it out like you're pushing, making bread, or maybe pizza? Yeeaaahhhh! Oohhh, that's the spot that usually hurts until it's rubbed out. You're really getting good at this, Claire-Bear, but I can't fire your mother you know?"

"I understand, when I'm done with you, will you do me?"

The words 'do me' went directly to 'you know where' and I hesitatingly said, "Uhm, sure."

"Now, I'm all the way up your leg, now what? When we had the couples massage, this is as far as my guy went. What does Sarah do?"

Well - She asked?

"She starts on the inside of my butt cheek, digging her palm just above where my leg becomes my butt?"

"You... want me to touch your butt?" she said, nervously.

"That's OK, just start on the other foot instead, it's no big deal -- really?"

"No, I can do it, it just... surprised me that's all," she giggled.

She started to really push and rub on my butt, and was actually doing a nice job, on releasing a cramp I'd started to develop.

"You know Claire-Bear, becoming a masseuse might be something to do after you're through dancing."

"After we're though dancing I want to have some babies with you! Why did you just tense up like that? Relax Honey-Buns?"

She moved to the other leg and did a really nice job. Both of my legs felt really nice. I got up and we kissed for a little then Claire got on her stomach, ready for me to 'do her.'

Of all the stuff I've learned in my 14 years, putting my hands on a beautiful girl with both of us in swimsuits... wasn't one. I excused myself and walked into the room where I knew Annie and Sarah were listening.

"Everything all right in there so far, Charles?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, but I'm as nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory right now. What do I do about rubbing her back? Her back turns into her boobs and I don't want to even come close to touching her boobs," I said, gesticulating madly at the same time.

"Put her arms up tight against her side. That way the boobs are out of sight and out of mind," Sarah said.

"They might be out of sight, but they're never out of my mind!" I exclaimed, coming back into the room.

"Charles - where did you go?" Claire yelled.

"Coming," I said, as I limbered up my fingers and cracked my knuckles.

I walked back up to Claire, and I said, "Sorry honey, I had to wash my hands first." I proceeded to start on her feet moving slowly up her leg. I looked down and saw her nice looking bottom and decided to stay away from that... at least this time.

I went back down to her other foot. She asked why I didn't do her butt, and I told her the truth, "Claire we're very close to having one of those moments that defines a couple, and I don't want to cross any lines, or start anything we're unable to finish."

"That's so cute, you're afraid of my butt, aren't you?"

"Absotively, Posilutely, my dear," I said as I finished her other leg, and slapped her leg with a love tap.

I started on her neck rubbing with just my thumb and forefinger. She gave out a long, 'Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh,' as I moved to her left shoulder. I pulled her left arm in, like Sarah suggested, and it went well. I went to her other shoulder, repeating my 'protection' move with her other arm. I went around to where her head was, leaned over and put both of my hands on her shoulder blades and pushed.

This is something our professionals couldn't do to us, but they did explain it, so we could do it ourselves. Claire gave out a great big moan, and said, "Charles, that was marvelous. You can do that to me every night, if you want?"

"Done, Beautiful." I leaned in and told her 'the Moms' were on the other side of the door.

She said, "Let's worry them a little. OK?"

"What did you have in mind exactly?" I asked, both hopeful and scared to death in the same moment.

"Let me do that same thing you just did to me, just overdo the moan a lot, OK?" Claire remarked.

"All right," I said. She got off and I got back on.

She leaned over my head and placed her palms on my shoulder blades and pushed.

"Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhh mmmyyyyyy Goood-d-d-d-d, Claire. Do that some more?" I was really out of breath now.

Both Moms burst through the door in a flash, followed by Kalista. They quickly realized it was all a big put on, and everybody started to laugh.

As they calmed down, I said, "I'm taking a shower, care to join me Claire-Bear?"

"I thought you'd never ask, Honey-Buns?" As we both went towards the bathroom.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, BUSTER!" Annie said. "You may be ready for that, but Sarah and I aren't."

Kalista turned and started to leave.

"Kalista, where are you going?" Sarah asked.

"Sometimes, I just don't get you guys... at all?" she said with a good deal of exasperation in her voice.

"What do you mean?" Annie asked.

"They're just going to get in the shower with their suits on and clean up, I don't understand why it's a problem?"

Annie sputtered, not able to respond to the logic of this intelligent nine year old. Sarah was equally inept at saying a word.

I walked over to Kalista, leaned in to her and said, "We weren't intending to keep our suits on, K."

She blushed and said, "Ooohh, My!"

*********** ***********

The next morning, we all went to the Grand Ballroom, where Michael was running through the lyrics for 'You Light Up My Life.'

Michael asked, "Do you have a routine to this yet?"

"We planned one out in our suite last night, you wanna see it?" I asked.

"Sure. I was gonna make this a piano only number, is that OK with you?"

"Are you doing all of the verses, Michael?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Then hit it, Alan," I said and the piano started.

I started the Waltz with Claire.

Michael starts to sing, the Oscar-winning song;

"So many nights I sit by my window

waiting for someone to sing me her song

So many dreams I kept deep inside me

Alone in the dark but now, You've come along..."

"You light up my life

You give me hope to carry on

You light up my days

and fill my nights... with song."

Claire leaves stage right; I switch to Kalista, who enters from stage left. All as the violins start in.

The next portion is where the girls perform matching Developés. They then do side-by-side, perfectly in sync, double spot spins.

I connect back up to Claire and we finish the song together, I hold her at the waist and she does a stunning layback move, with me holding her inches from the floor.

"It can't be wrong, when it feels so right

'Cause You - You light up my life."

K comes back on and does a free-floating pirouette, as the song ends.

The singer, the dancers and the piano all finish exactly together.

I look over at Michael and he's crying. He walks over to us, giving first K, and then Claire, a great big hug. He says "How am I going to afford you on the International SST? You guys are worth so much more than when you started dancing for me... 23 cities ago."

"Make us an offer?" I cavalierly said.

Michael replied, still wiping his eyes, "Forty thousand each a week for a year, starting the day after Labor Day next year, but no more gate fees?"

Sarah came up to Michael and said, "For that kind of money, I want a hug too." Michael put his arms around her and whispered something into her ear.

She pulled away from Michael blushing a little. I walked up to him and put out my hand. Annie walked up to watch what was happening.

Michael said, "A sample of countries on the International SST starting in eight months, includes multiple stops in Canada, my home country, along with most of Europe. Individual countries include, Austria, Germany, Iceland, Belgium, Ireland, France, Italy, Norway, Finland, Spain, Bulgaria, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Sweden, and Poland. Still trying to get into Russia, Japan, China, along with Australia and New Zealand. These are the countries on my list so far, for next year... more will be added. We'd be performing at least twice a week, probably more, crisscrossing all over the region. You guys get your Passports in order, then I'll shake your hand on this deal."

"Annie, show him," I said, keeping a straight face.

Annie pulled out five small booklets and handed them to Michael. He looked them over, chuckling and shaking his head while doing it, and walked up to me and said, "You, Charles Newman -- Have got a deal."

We all shook hands with Michael. We applied for the Passports the same day we shook hands with Michael on the original deal.

"Let's rehearse. I need to make some money to pay you guys, don't I?" We all laughed at that, Annie cut loose a couple of snorts.

We got back to rehearsal, and Michael put three songs back into the set list, 'Cry Me a River,' 'Everything,' and 'Sway.' 'For Good,' was going to start the evening. We would all have a 10-minute break in the middle and we three would finish the night with 'You Light Up My Life.'

Michael cut us loose for the night, I think he wanted to scream at his orchestra a little, and didn't want us to hear it.

We started to walk back to our rooms.

As we walked, I went up to Sarah, putting my arm around her waist, and asked, "What did Michael whisper to you, does he want to 'hook up' with you?"

"Oh, no Charles. That's funny that you'd say that. He just told me how much he... liked the dress I was wearing."

"Well it does show off your... best assets, my dear."

"In your dreams, buster," she said to me, laughing.

"You're in my dreams most nights, dear sweet Sarah?"

"Really?" she stopped and asked.

"Either you, or Claire, or both of you are in my dreams, every night; but I wake up before... it gets too far."

"What is too far, Loverboy?" she said using a seductive sounding voice now, as we started walking again.

"Clothes... are being removed, that's how far?" I said.

"Charles, I've been calling you. What are you and my mother talking about that has you so engrossed?" Claire said, catching up with us.

I replied, "We were talking about Michael, and how your mother thinks he has a nice butt?" Sarah looked over at me and just smiled.

Claire came up on Sarah's other side and asked, "Am I too young to start taking birth control pills, Mom?"

That stopped Sarah in her tracks. We were in the lobby of the hotel so she couldn't yell, but she said firmly, "We can discuss this upstairs all right?"

"Sure, mom."

Having overheard, Kalista asked Claire, "What are birth control pills, Claire?"

"Upstairs, kiddo -- we'll talk then," Claire answered, sporting a smile.

"OK," K responded and walked over to Annie. The two of them held hands.

The rest of the walk to the rooms was very quiet. Annie came up to me and asked, "What happened, why is everybody so tense?"

"Wait just a moment Mom, all will be revealed," I responded.

Everybody sat down in a circle.

"Let's answer Kalista's question first shall we, all right Claire and Sarah?" I asked.

They both agreed.

"Well, Kalista -- you asked -- 'What are Birth Control Pills?' and I'll explain this to you. First the concept; Not all women want to have babies; some want them when they're young; some, not until they're older; and some just don't want them. It's a woman's decision. Anybody disagree with that statement?" I said looking at each of the ladies.

There was no response, either verbal or non-verbal, so I went on.

"Kalista, do you understand how a woman gets pregnant?" I heard a gasp from both Annie and Sarah. Mom looked at me and mouthed, 'Be Careful.'

"I don't think that what I know is correct, Charles -- Can you explain that to me, please?" K asked.

I looked around and asked, "Can I explain this to Kalista - Sarah; is it all right with you?"

"Charles, I trust you to be as non-explicit as possible, please?" Sarah said nervously.

I turned back to Kalista and started, "Kalista, you seem to understand the concept of love, so let's start from there. Annie met my father, fell in love and married him; back then, they were still very much in love. When a man and a woman are in love, many things happen. They spend time together kissing and... having fun. One of the things that two people, who are married, can do to express their love, is to have intercourse. You remember our discussion from before?"

"Sure Charles -- When I got stuck on the word Incest, the definition included the word Intercourse, so I looked it up, and it uses a word I couldn't even pronounce, Co-eye-tus, is what it looked like."

"The word is pronounced 'Coy-tus' K, and there are a lot of words that have been used over the years besides Intercourse, including a lot of 'street terms,' that isn't real important at the moment. What Coitus is, is the sexual union of a man and a woman, do I need to be any more graphic than that?"

"No Charles... I understand that," K blushed and giggled. Both Moms breathed a big sigh of relief as well.

"Good, for all our sakes," I said, laughing and relieving some tension. Mom snorted. Sarah slapped her on the shoulder.

Annie said, "You're doing a splendid job honey, I wish someone had explained that much to me when I was younger, about 12 or 13." I turned to her and she was tearing up a little. She waved me to continue.

"When a man and a woman have a sexual union, a number of things can occur, depending on the man. It all depends on the man, his morals, and his standards are key to whether or not this event occurs with love, lust or total indifference."

"Damn straight!" Sarah declared. "Sorry, go ahead Charles?"

Annie returned the slap from before.

"When a man completes... his responsibility in a sexual union, it can cause a woman to get pregnant. You've started having periods very young. About two weeks after your period starts, your body produces an egg that can become a little boy or a little girl. About two weeks after your body creates this egg, one of two things happens, either that egg becomes fertilized and starts to grow and become a baby, or you start your period, and it all starts over again."

"What the man leaves behind lasts as long as five days inside you, so if you produce the egg around the same time the man leaves his seed behind, it's very likely that you would get pregnant."

"All right now - back to the subject of Birth Control, have you understood what I've explained so far?"

I heard the entire group say, 'Yes.'

"I can't wait to see where this is going?" Sarah said, giggling. Mom snorted as well. Even Claire had gotten a smarmy smile on her face. I stared them down and they all got quiet.

I went on, "If you don't do anything to either protect the woman or keep the man from leaving his seed behind, then it's likely the woman will end up pregnant. There are things the man can do, like pull away and not leave his seed, or protect his seed from getting to the woman, using a cover to protect the women from receiving his seed."

"Keep going honey, this is better than watching a movie," mom said.

"Are you still with me, Kalista?" I asked.

"U-huh, thank you so far for this Charles. I know this is better then whatever they'd try to teach me in school," K remarked.

"That's sweet K, now some women want to get pregnant, and they count the days starting from when their period is over, and the worst possible time to conceive is between one and seven days after your period is over. Remember honey, all of this is very scientific in nature, but it's not necessarily as cut and dry as I'm making it sound."

I went on, "So a natural form of controlling the birth of a baby, would be to..."

"Have sex within the first couple days after my period is over?" Kalista answered, clapping her hands together.

"Very good, Kalista gimme five. Now I've explained three different methods for keeping a child from being born. If you want a baby, just have a lot of... sexual unions with your husband, because having a sexual union with just any man, has a number of moral implications that I don't intend to discuss at this time."